The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1887-07-09

"wE STOOD UPON A BLUFF"
streamers, she had fastened to the top o.
her parasol. She held it closely to her side
watching the boys as they stepped on board
some laughing and testing, others furtively
brushing away the tears, and all leaning
over the guards to repeat some last mes
sage. Richard Kirby stood in the bow Of
the boat, distinct as the smoke stack itself
with his arms folded, taking no part in the
general leave taking. We felt that his eye
was upon one little group, but there was nj
sign to reveal what emotion was passing
within. The band struck up a gay march,
the gang plank was withdrawn, and the
boat swung out to resume her way down
the river, and still he stood there motion
less.
Almost as he was being carried out OF
sight my sister brought her parasol to view,
and waved the rebel colors aloft. We saw
him brace himself more erect than before,
then wave of his hand with the military
salute. BY this time the boat was fairy
turning round and he was lost to view
Not till then did my sisters courage give
way. She sank down among the reeds in
the broad sunshine and covered her fsce
with both her hands. 1 besought her togo
back to the house, but she would giveme
no answer. | could see the townspecple
vending their way back to their accus-
toned business, or pleasure, while the
heavy throbs of the steamer as she plowed
her way through the waters seemed like
the bursting of some agonized heart. We
sat there through the long summer after
noon, while | watched the shadows growing
longer and deeper, and at last, the full
glow of the setting sun lay all about US,
turning the waters above the bend to
molten gold, while below, where they lay
in shadow, all was dark and gray My
sister, grown calmer now, and looking at
the scene, said:
''Gracie, you see my life in this picture.
There is the gold of my vanished youth !;
there, below, is the darkness of despair,
and my hearts love has gone down in its
track"
We watched the golden glory fade away,
and the gray shadows that came creeping
on, and soon the slender curve of the new
moon stood over the darkened waters. The
dampness of early night was all about US,
and Rachel, our old house servant, filled
with anxiety came searching for us. Her
first words were:
''Mis' Jane, have ben huntin' fer We
all ober de place Yere's letter Massa
Richard done sent by little Bob, but 'clar
to goodness couldn't find we nowhar"
Jane grasped the paper. In the twilight
she read these words:
81 go to my death, Jane, for you. Had you
said one word, my resolve had been SHAKEN.
God knows you are more to me than fame, or
life itself. What is life to me without you?
There is not even the soldiers hope of glory.
One name to add to the list of dead, or missing,
that is all. For the sake of the old days, Jane,
send me some token, as a charm in the hour of
danger. 1t is all shall ever ask at your hands.
ORCHARD"
Here was his old impetuous self again,
still ignoring all rebuffs and finging his
unavailng love at her feet All if he could
have seen her at this moment, have seen
the passionate kisses which she bestowed
upon this inanimate piece of paper, he
would have forsworn all hope of glory in
deed.
CHAPTER II.
Not word of this did L dare breathe to
my father. AS we were seated on the
veranda, before retiring for the night, he
referred to the departure, saying, every
rebel should do likewise. If they were not
satisfied with the best government on earth
let them try to overthrow it. They would
soon find an end to their boasting. He little
knew, at that moment, that in my sisters
hand lay the little red and white rosette
which she had detached from her parasol,
seeking the first opportunity to send it to
her hot-headed lover as the ''charm in the
hour of danger"
The heavy odor of the red and white June
roses was waited on the night air, and my
sister plucked two of their buds, the red and
the white and fastened them at her girdle
The act had no significance in my fathers
eyes, but knew that from that moment
she was as surely pledged to the Southern
Confederacy as was her valiant lover.
In few days came the news of the open
ing conflict on Missouri soil, in the battle of
Boonville. My father was triumphant.
Lyon had routed the State forces. A
deathly pallor swept over my sisters face,
but she would ask no questions. Only those
who experienced the dread suspense which
those early battles eutalled, can know the
agony which she endured during the sue
ceeding days until message came by the
hand of "little Bob" 1t was this:
Your token lies over my heart. We lost
Guards at Warsaw. Now we have arms and
horses Forward to glory! Your true knight
will yet win his bride. RICHARD
In the enlistment of Southern troops in
Missouri there was little of the pageantry
Of war to captivate the senses. There were
no uniforms with gided buttons and stars
of gold to dazzle the eve. Nothing to dis.
tinguish the officer from his subordinate,
save bit of red flannel, or piece of cotton
cloth fastened to his shoulder or his sleeve
They had no muster rolls; they slept under
the blue canopy of heaven, fed upon the
growing corn and turned their rn-out
horses to feed upon the wild prairie grass,
as in some rare frolic which all too soon be-
came tragic. This encounter with the Home
Guards encouraged the somewhat disheart-
ened volunteers. Then came the news that
Ben McCulloch, with his Texan Rangers,
was on his way to their relief and their ex-
ultation knew no bounds.
The sultry days of July were full of fore
bodng to the Union men. The disaster at
Bull Run had given outspoken bravado to
the secessionists, knowing that the greater
part Of the force under Lyon, opposed to
the State forces, was composed of three
months men, whose term of service would
soon expire. The Unionists placed their
great hope upon the convention which they
had called for the purpose of deposing
General Jackson. My father was no half
way Union man. Once in, he was in heart
and soul, and when Lyons pitiful appeals
to his superors in comBand for reinforce
ments went UNDECIDED, my father announced
his intention of going with squad of